Detachable trolling plate for outboard motors



Dec. 9, 1941. v G. J. BUCK 2,265,625

DETACHABLE TROLLING PLATE FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed June 12, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet 1 73 l illfif/i. 4 W T am EEIDRBE! J Hum Dec. 9, 1941. I G.J. BUCK 2,265,625

DETACHABLE TROLLING PLATE FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed June 12, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented 9, 1941 PATENT 4 OFFICE DETACHABLE TROLLINGPLATE FOR- OUTBOARD MOTORS George J. Buck, Minneapolis, Minn, assignorof one-third to Robert G. Peterson and one-third to Barry C. Whitmore,both 01' Minneapolis,

Application June 12, 1940, Serial No. 340102 13 Claims.

My invention relates to a detachable trolling plate for outboard motorswherein it is desired to provide an attachment for motors of this typewhich may be quickly and easily detachable and which may be used to slowthe efiective speed of the boat propelled by the motor.

Outboard motors are usually constructed with one or two cylinders andpresent day outboard motors are so constructed that they can travel at arelatively low rate of speed. However, if the speed of the motor isreduced below a certain predescribed minimum the motor will stallbecause of the slow speed of rotation of the crank shaft. Thes motorsare made to travel as 'eiliciently as possible and are constructed togive a considerable amount of speed when it is so desired. When itbecomes necessary to travel at an extremely low rate of speed, someprovisions have to be made in order to prevent the motor from stalling.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a speed reducingmeans in the form of a disc secured concentric with the propellerrotated by the motor and detachably mounted adjacent the propeller. Thisdisc is arranged to rotate with the propeller but to deflect the waterthrown rearwardly by the propeller in such a way that a portion of theefiectiveness of the propeller is counteracted. Thus by reducing thespeed of the motor and using this disc adjacent the motor propeller, thespeed of travel of the boat may be reduced without danger of stallingthe motor.

It is a feature of my invention to provide a trolling disc which isengageable with a rotating bracket permanently secured adjacent thepropeller. Thus by tilting the motor upwardly, the

trolling disc or plate may be attached to this bracket withoutdifllculty and this action may be accomplished while the boat is outupon the water without endangering the occupants of the boat. It ishighly desirable to provide a disc of this sort as easily andeffectively attachable and Q removable as possible, as otherwise itisnecessary either to leave the trolling plate in place all the time orelse to put in to land in order to apply the plate. As fishing groundsare often encountered at a considerable distance from the starting pointof the boat, the constant use of a trolling disc of-this type isundesirable and as these fishing grounds often occur hear sand bars orthe like, at a considerable distance from shore, it is extremelyconvenient to provide a plate which may be easily and simply attachedwhile the boat is on the water.

It is a further purpose of my invention to provide a bracket whichconstantly rotates with the driven propeller to which the disc may beattached. 1 In attaching my trolling disc or plate it is only necessaryto insert the disc or plate in proper relation to the bracket and torotate the disc into its proper position.

It-is a further feature of my invention to provide a disc or plateprovided with a sealed compartment or float so that should the disc beaccidentally dropped into the water, this memher will float on thesurface so that it may be recovered.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be moreclearly-and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an outboard motor with the trollingplate attached thereto. A Figure 2 is an elevational view of a trollingdisc in readiness for attachment.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the bracket which is attached tothe propeller shaft the Figure 8 is a view similar to Figures. 6 and 7,

but showing the plate adapted for attachment and showing the discoperable upon a rotating in either direction.

Figure 9 is an elevation view of amodified form of construction 01'trolling disc.

Figure 10 is an elevation view of the bracket,

used in conjunction with the disc illustrated in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is aside elevation view of the bracket shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a side elevation view of amodified form of construction oftrolling disc.

, Figure 13 is a detail view of the attaching bracket for the'discillustrated in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view through a.

modified form of disc and attaching means.

Figure 15 is an elevation view oithe dlsc'used in Figure 14.

Figure 16 illustrates a modified shape of disc propeller which may beused in place of the shapes previously illustrated.

Figure 17 illustrates a disc having a float attached thereto. Such afloat may be used with any of the originally described discs.

The outboard motor A may be of any desired or preferred type whichcauses rotation of a propeller shaft l and the propeller mountedthereupon. The trolling disc B is secured to the propeller shaft III bymeans of a bracket I2 best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of thedrawings. This bracket I2 is provided with a central bearing plate |3having an opening I 4 therethrough, and this bearing plate I 3 isprovided with oppositely disposed resilient arms l5 extending rearwardlyand outwardly from the propeller The propeller shaft I0 is designed toflt through the opening l4 and the bracket I2 is attached to the bracketIn by means of lock nuts l3.

Each of the resilient arms I 5 are provided with offset ends I! whichare connected to the remainder of the arms by radially extendingconnecting portions [9. These connecting portions l3 are at least thethickness of the disc B in order that the bracket l2 may extend throughthis disc. The trolling plate B in one form of its construction isillustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. This view discloses a circularplate-like body 20 having a marginal flanged edge 2| thereupon.

Arcuated slots 22 are provided concentric with 30 the disc 20. Thewidthof the slots 22 is increased at one end 23 to such an extent that theoffset ends I! may fit through the enlarged portion of the slot. Theslots 22 are also enlarged at their other end 24,- the remainder orcentral portion of the slot 22 being of slightly lessv diameter than thedistance between the connecting portions IS on the bracket l2.

In applying the disc B the offset ends I! are extended through theenlarged apertures 23 at the ends of the slots 22. The disc B is thenrotated with respect to the bracket, it being necessary to compress thearms l5 together slightly in order to have the connecting portions I9pass within the slots 22" as these connecting portions l3 are a slightlygreater distance apart than the distance between the outer extremitiesof the slots 22. Upon rotation of the disc B the bracket l2 comes intocommunication with the enlarged portions 24 01' the slots 22, the armsl5 of the bracket then springing outwardly and urging the connectingportions I 9 into the enlarged portions 24. When in this position thedisc B cannot be rotated in either direction without compressing thearms l5 of the bracket together slightly. As there is no force capableof springing thes arms together accidentally, the disc B will remainattached until removed by hand.

In Figure 5 of the drawings I disclose a form of of constructionvirtually identical with that illustrated in Figure 2. In this form ofconstruction the disc C is in the form of a circular plate or body 25having a peripheral rim 26 extending thereabout. A pair of arcuatedslots 21 are provided concentric with th disc-shaped body 25 andenlargements 29 are formed in this disc to permit the passage of theofiset ends I! of the bracket |2 to pass therethrough.

A cam-shaped shoulder 30 is provided in each of the slots 21 whichengages the connecting portions I9 of the bracket l2 during rotationthereof relative to the disc, springing the arms l5 apart to some extentas the connecting portions pass over the shoulders 30. As the arms I5are pivoted toward the ends 3| of the slots 21 opposite the enlargedends 29, the arms l5 spring inwardly and are held in place by the camshoulders 30.

In Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings I disclose a trolling plate Dwhich'is very similar to the plates B and C. In this form ofconstruction the-circu- 5 lar body 32 is provided with a peripheralflange 33 and with arcuated slots 34 concentric with the disc-shapedbody 32. The slots, 34 are enlarged in width at 35 in order that theoffset ends of the bracket l2 may be inserted therethrough.

10 The slots 34 are designed to accommodate the connecting portions l9when the disc is rotated from its first position, the oifset ends l1overlying one surface of the disc, while the portion of the arms l5adjacent the connecting portions I9 5 overlie the opposite surface ofthese brackets.

The surfac of the disc 32 adjacent the slots 34 is deformed to provideshoulders engageable with the resilient arms l5. As may be seen'inFigures 6 and 7 ofthe drawings, shoulders 36 areprovided adjacent theinner edge of the slots 34, which shoulders ar engageable with thoseportions of the spring arms l5 closely adjacent the'connecting portionsIQ of these arms. Thus after the offset ends I! of the brackets |2 have25 been inserted through the enlarged portions 35 of the slots 34,rotation of the disc D with respect to the bracketcauses the bracketarms |5 to flex over. the shoulders 31 and to engage in the slots 34against the shoulders 36. Rotation of the disc D with respect to thebracket is then limited in one direction by the ends 31 of the slots 34and in the other direction by the shoulders 36. The disc D may beremoved, however, by flexing the arms |5 or plate D sufllciently torotate-the brack- 35 et |2 over the shoulders 38.

40 illustrated in general by the numeral E, the discshaped body 33 isprovided with a peripheral edge 40. Two sets of arcuated notches 4| and42 are provided which are concentric with respect to the body 39. Thenotches 4| are provided with 45 enlarged apertures 43 communicating withone end thereof, while the notches 42 are provided with enlargedapertures .44 communicating with the other extremity thereof. Theseenlargementsare designed to accommodate the offset head end portions llof the brackets l2, which brackets may be rotated into the slots 4| or42, the connecting portions I9 extending through these slots so that theoffset head ends overlie the rear surface of the disc E, while thebracket arms I5 adjacent the connecting portions l9 overlie thefront's'urface thereof.

Shoulders 45 are provided adjacent the slots 42 to frictionally engagethe brackets l5 and to hold these brackets in the slots 42 after thedisc E has been attached. Similar shoulders 46 are provided adjacent theslots 4| so that the bracket |2 may be held in the slots 4|. Obviouslythe slots 4| are designed for use when applied to motors havingpropellers operating in one direction, while the slots 42 are designedto engage the bracket |2 on motors where the propeller is operating inthe opposite direction.

In Figures 9, 10, and 11 of the drawings, I disclose a plate and bracketconstruction which is slightly diflerent from that previously described.

The type of trolling plate F illustrated in Figure 9 is disclosed havinga circular body 41 with a pcripheral flange 48 extending thereabout. Apair of concentric arcuated slots 43 are provided in the plate 41 andconcentric therewith. The slots aaoaeas which the bracket may be securedto the disc body 41.

In operation the heads 59 of the studs 51 are inserted through theenlarged ends'50 of the slots 49 and the circular body 41 is rotatedwith respect to the bracket 52 so that the shanks of the studs 51 passthrough the slots 49. The slots 49 may be spaced slightly farther apartfrom the center of the disc or closer to the center of the disc than thestuds 51 so that the shanks of the studs engage an edge of the slots 49under spring tension. When the disc body 41 has been ro' tated until theshanks of the studs 51 engage in the slightly enlarged ends 5| of theslots 49, this spring tension decreases and the disc remains in this setposition.

In the type of construction illustrated in Figures 12 and 13, thetrolling plate G is of the same general form as has been previouslyillustrated and is provided with a pair of rearwardly extending parallelbrackets 68. These brackets are secured to the rear surface of thesubstantially circular plate 5| having a marginal rim 62. The brackets60 are equipped with studs 63 having enlarged heads as illustrated.These heads are designed to fit into a T-shaped slot 54 in asubstantially U-shaped bracket 65 having a base portion 66 and a pair ofsubstantially parallel sides 61. The T-shapedslot 84 is best illustratedin Figure 13 of the drawings and is shown with a spring 89 embeddedtherein which is engageable against the shanks of the studs 83. Ininserting the trolling plate G upon the bracket 65 the plate 6| isforced toward the bracket 65, the studs 63 entering the longitudinallyextending slot portion 18 of the T-shaped slot 64 until these studsengage the springs 69. The springs are compressed by further inwardmovement of the studs and when the studs reach the base of the T-shapedslot 64 the plate may be rotated in either direction to position thestuds on one side or on the other of the entrance slot 10. The spring 69holds the studs resiliently in the chosen position and the operatorrotates the disc in the opposite direction of rotation of the propellerso that there is no tendency for the rotation of the disc to disengagethe same from the bracket 65. The bracket 65 is secured. by the nut 1|to the propefler shaft adjacent the motor propeller 12.

In Figures 14 and 15 of the drawings I disclose another modified form ofconstruction. In this construction the trolling plate indicated ingeneral by the letter'I-I is provided with a substantially circular body13 having a peripheral rim 14 thereupon. The plate 13 is provided with aslot 15 extending outwardly from the center thereof an equal distance in,each direction, and

an enlarged opening 18 may be provided in the center of the plate foraccommodation of the hub of the holding means. At right angles to the vlongitudinal axis of the slot 15 I provide a pair of spaced apertures 11through the plate'for a purpose which will be later more clearly deitwill be noted that a washer 19 encircles the propeller shaft adjacentthe propeller 8| and a nut 82 screws onto the propeller shaft 80 to holdthe washer 19 in fixed position. This nut 82 is provided with a crossmember 88 thereupon designed to fit within or pass through the slot 15in the plate-like body 13. The ends of the cross member 83 are providedwith a pair of for- 'wardly extending projections 84 whichare designedto engage in the apertures 11 in the body 13. A second washer 85 ispositioned encircling the nut 82 adjacent the cross member 83 and aspring 86 is interposed between the washers 19 and 85.

In operation the washers 19 and 85, the spring 86, and the nut 82including the cross member 83 and the projections 84, remain permanentlyaffixed to the propeller shaft 88. When it is desired to securethe'trolling plate H in position it is only necessary to position thebody 13 so that the slot 15 is placed in juxtaposition with the.crossmember 83 and to press the plate inwardly compressing the spring 86 andsliding the washer 85 longitudinally of the nut 82. When the plate-likebody 13 has been forced inwardly sufficiently so that the projections 84clear the outer surface or the rear surface of the body 13, this body orplate may be rotated 90 until the projections 84 on the cross member 83coincide with the apertures 10. Inward pressure upon the plate may thenbe released andthe projections extend through the apertures 11 to holdthe plate 13 from rotation relative to the nut 82 and accordingly withrespect to the propeller shaft 80.

In Figure 16 of the drawings, I disclose a plate 81 which is concave inshape and is provided with a marginal rim 89 as illustrated. This plate81 may be substituted for any of the various flat plates which have beendisclosed in the previous drawings. This concaved shape tends to form awater pocket which slows the speed of the boat to a greater extent thanwill be accomplishedwith a fiat plate. The propeller 98 positionedadjacent the plate 81, forces water against this plate and the curvatureof the plate tends to urge this waterforwardly, thus reducing theefiiciency of the propeller to a considerable extent.

In Figure 17 of the drawings I disclose a plate 9i which may be any ofthe plates previously described and disclose attached thereto a float92. This plate may be a lighter member than water and of sufficient sizeto cause the entire plate to float if released in the water. If it isdesired, the float 92 may be a hollow container filled with air orsuitable material so that should the plate be accidentally dropped inthe water,

thereof, I desire to have it understood that ob-' vious changes may bemade within the scope of the following claims without departing from thespirit of my invention.

I claim:

1.'A retarding device for propellers comprising a bracket includingradially extending arms secured for rotation with said propeller, aplate having a series of arcuate slots therein, enlargements at one endof each of said slots, and fastening means on said brackets comprisingshank means engageable through said slots and heads on said shank meansengageable through the enlarged portions of said slots.

I 2. A retarding device for prgpelle'rs comprising a bracket secured forrotationwith the propeller having a series of radially extending armsthereupon, head portions formed on the ends of said arms, a retardingplate having a series of arcuate slots therein, enlarged portions insaidslots through which said head portions may extend, and shoulders insaid slots engaging said head portions to prevent accidentaldisengagement thereof.

3. A retarding device for propellers comprising a bracket secured forrotation with the propeller, said bracket comprising a series ofradially extending resilient arms, having head ends thereon a dischavinga series of arcuate slots therein, enlarged portions in said slotsthrough which said head ends may extend, said bracket being movablethrough said slot under spring tension,

and shoulders in said slots engaged by said head ends to preventaccidental disengagement of said disc from said bracket.

4. A retarding device for propellers comprising a resilient bracketattached to the propeller for rotation therewith, said bracket havingoppositely disposed arms, head ends on said bracket, a disc havingarcuate slots therein, an'enlarged portion in each of said slots throughwhich said head ends of said bracket may'extend, and cam means adjacentsaid slots for flexing the arms to resist accidental disengagement ofsaid disc from said bracket.

5. A retarding device for propellers comprising a bracket secured forrotation with the propeller, a retarding disc, spaced brackets on saiddisc, and means on said spaced brackets engageable with said first namedbracket to detachably secure said disc to said first named bracket.

6. A retarding device for propellers comprising a bracket secured forrotation with the propeller, a disc having an aperture therethroughthrough which a portion of said bracket may extend, spring means urgingsaid disc against said bracket, and co-operable means on said bracketand said disc for holding said diseagainst rotation with respect to saidbracket.

7. A retarding device for propellers, comprising a disc means, means forremovably securing said disc to said propeller shaft, and float meanssecured to said ,disc means whereby said disc means will be caused tofloat should the same be disengaged from said propeller.

8. A retarding device for propellers comprising a bracket secured forrotation with said propeller, said bracket having o'il'set portions atits ends, a disc in spaced relation to said propeller provided witharcuate slots, each of said slots having an enlarged section throughwhich one of said offset portions of said bracket may be inserted duringassembly, the narrower part of said slot cooperating with said offsetportion, after the disc is rotated during assembly, for securing saiddisc to said bracket.

9. A retarding device for propellers comprising a bracket secured forrotation with said propeller said bracket having oilset portions at itsends, a disc in spaced relation to said propeller provided with arcuateslots, each of said slots having an enlarged section through which oneof said offset portions of said bracket may be inserted during assembly,the opposite end of said slots having an opening of smaller area thansaid enlarged section and cooperating with said offset portion, afterthe disc is rotated during assembly, for securing said disc to saidbracket.

10. In combination, a marine propeller, a shaft therefor, a retardingdisc, an annular flange about the periphery of said disc extending asufficient distance therefrom on the forward side of said disc'to form asubstantial pocket therewith, a support fixed to said shaft, and meansfor releasably securing said disc to said support.

11. In combination, a marine propeller, a shaft therefor, a retardingdisc concaved on the forward side thereof to form a substantial pocket,a support fixed to said shaft, and means for releasably securing saiddisc to said support by moving the disc relative to said shaft.

12. In combination, a marine propeller, a shaft therefor, a retardingdisc, an annular flange about the periphery of said disc extending asufficient distance therefrom on the forward side thereof to form asubstantial pocket therewith, a support fixed to said shaft, and meansfor releasably securingsaid disc to said support by moving the discaxially of said shaft into engagement with said support and thenrotating said disc into locking position.

13. In combination, a marine propeller, a shaft therefor, a retardingdisc concaved on the forward side thereof to form a substantial pocket,a support fixed to said shaft, means for releasably securing sald discto said support by moving the disc relative to said shaft intoengagement with said support and then rotating said disc into lockingposition.

GEORGE J. BUCK.

CERTiFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,265,625. a December 9, 19in.

' GEORGE J. BUCK.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 11.,first colmnn, line 17, claiin 5, after the word -"arms" strike out thecomma and insert the same after Y'on" 7 line 18, same claim; and thatthe said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein thatthe same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Office ISigned and sealed this 27th day of January, A D. 191m;

4 Henry Va'n Arsdale, (Seal) .Acting Commissioner of Patents.

